Welcome to a world of imagination!
Tazewell County, get ready to embark on a magical journey where the love for reading and the joy of imagination take center stage!
What is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library?
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a renowned literacy program that was founded by the legendary Dolly Parton. This initiative is dedicated to fostering a love of books and reading among children from birth to age five.
Every month, enrolled children receive a carefully selected, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their homes, absolutely free of charge.
How did the Program Come to Tazewell County?
Imagination Library of Tazewell County was organized in 2024 by supporters in our local libraries (https://www.mortonlibrary.org/imagination). By bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to kids in our community, your Tazewell County public libraries offer another avenue to share the joy of books and the gift of reading.
To accomplish this, local donors were needed to cover postage costs associated with delivering the free books to individual homes, secure ongoing support, and provide a foundation for sustainable giving. The Tazewell County Freemasonry stepped up to provide initial funding, with multiple other donors (listed below) joining to support the venture.
Who is Eligible?
Children under five years old who live in Tazewell County are now eligible to receive a free book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in partnership with Tazewell County Libraries. The free books are offered to all children under five in the county, regardless of family income. Children must be registered by a parent or guardian in order to receive the books. There is no charge to register or receive the books.
I Want To… REGISTER MY CHILD
It sounds almost too simple to be true, but by reading regularly with your children during their early years, you are giving them the biggest boost toward a successful education they will ever get.
Parents and guardians, please visit the dedicated enrollment portal and sign up your child by filling out a brief online form.
Enrolling your child in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is easy and free!
Please allow eight to ten weeks for your little one’s first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly. The first book distributed is always the children’s classic, “The Little Engine That Could.”
Thank You!
Local funding for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in Tazewell County is provided by:
- Tazewell County Freemasonry
- East Peoria Women’s Club
- Friends of Fondulac Library
- Kiwanis Club of East Peoria
- Pekin Kiwanis Club
- Rotary Club of Morton
- Friends of the Pekin Library
- Retired Teachers of Tazewell County
I Want To…GIVE TODAY
The success of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library relies on the support of our community.
The Dollywood Foundation covers the cost of the books. Local partners cover the mailing costs. Tazewell County’s Imagination Library program is funded by donations, with a 50% match given by the State of Illinois. In order to receive this match, we must acquire funding to cover the entirety of Tazewell County.
Although we rely heavily on Community Organizations for funding, individuals are also needed to support this important literacy program. Donations are tax-deductible and flow through a fund at the Morton Community Foundation. Please mail contributions to: Morton Community Foundation ATTN: Imagination Library Fund, 135 S. First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550 or donate online here:
Your contribution will not only provide a child with the gift of reading but also contribute to the overall literacy development in Tazewell County.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 250 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Program Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five – at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
Pekin Alliance for Literacy Success 